Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-05
RICHMOND JAIL.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO
The JUDGE OF HUsTIHGs COURT.
Inspection Of the Building Yesterday BY
Judge Atkins, commonwealth's-
Attorney Witt, and Others.

The Jail commissioners OF tue Guy ~
Gently submitted the following report to
Judge Atkins, OF the Hastings Court:
To The Honorable Judge Of The Hrsiinqs
Court;
sir,-On the 22d December the under
signed, Jail commissioners, according to
law, visited the city joil, and bee to report
as follows
We found 1G9 prisoners, consisting OF Q
white women. 81 white men. 30 colored
women, and 90 colored men. In the hos
pitsl we found W. r. Smith, under SEN
tence TO the Virginia penltentiary, and his
physical condition is such that we feel com
PEELED TO ask, i-r the sake OF humanity,
that he be remo1 I'd 10 some place where a
skilled nurse can be assigned TO him; there
are 10 skilled nurses at the jail, and be
cannot receive the proper attention there.
We are clearly OF the opinion that contine-
ment in his present quarters will shorten
his life.
The little child referred TO in our last re-
port is still in the jail, and we cannot too
strongly urge the importance OF having
this weak.Ininded child removed TO one OF
the State asylums, where proper care and
attention can be rendered. This case de-
mands prompt consideration.
We also found two lunatics tb0th cob
Ored)-one man and one woman. They
should be removed to the asyIums.
We regret TO report that sixteen cells are
unfit for occupancy, owing to dampness,
and that the doors Of two other cells are
ont OF order.
For over year we have called attention
to the importance Of placing one or two
sections OF hose, 10 be used In case OF 1Te,
in the Jail. At present not a single foot OF
hose could be used il occasion demand
IL. The city has placed tire-plug at the
entrance 10 the Jail, but plug in the street
without hose would be OF no value in case
OF fire. II fire should originate in the up
per part Of the Jail, where the women are
confined, we fear many would be DESTROYED,
and for this reason we pnt ourselves on
record, so that the blood OF these poor
souls NAV not be on our heads, but on the
heads Of the Common Council.
We respectfully submit that headlights
should be placed In the northern and south
ern yards above the iron gates, and con
nected with the main yard, so that The
guards and watchmen could flash them
from time to time during the night without
entering the prison yard.
We found the jail in good order. so far
as the officers could make 1t; the food
abundant, clean, and healthy.
Respectfully submitted.
ANTHONY BARGAINS,
THOMAS POTTs,
CHARLES :. MILLS,
Jail Commissioners City of Richmond.
INSPECTION or THE PREMISES.
Yesterday Judge Atkins, Common.
wealth's- Attorney Witt, City-Engineer
Cutsbaw, CIty.AttOrney Meredith, Jail
Commissioners Thomas Potts aud DR..
Charles ;. Mills. and CounciImen Kendler,
Snead, and Ammons visited the Jail and
made a thorough inspection to see what
improvements or changes could be made.
They found that sixteen cells were in such
a condition that they could not be used ;
the western wall weakened by water vast
ing from the pines and closes, and the
building itself totally unfit for the purpose
it was intended.
Mr.. Potts called attention TO the prison
ire apparatus, which consisted OF section
OF old rotten leather hose, and the brass
coupling was half an inch larger than the
nozzle of the fire-plug.
The opinion was expressed that it would
be useless expenditure OF money to at.
tempt to improve the present building, and
all present were in favor of building a new
Jail IL The finances OF the city were 10 a
condition 10 do so.
During the inspection Councilman Am
mons said he would like TO see CIuyerius.
Mr.. Dunn, the Waterman I'm that room, at
first declined to allow any one to enter
Cluverius's room. Deputy-Sergeant Allen
informed him that the Committee on
Grounds and Buildings were inspecting
the building, and wanted to see the condi-
ton Of every room and cell OF the building.
They were admitted, and Cluyerius was
found sitting in a chair near the window
reading his Bible.